[An autopsied case of metastatic endocrine carcinoma of the pancreas with primary site difficult to identify]

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 2005 May;32(5):671-3.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

A 40-year-old man suffering from right cheek swelling was first diagnosed with ameloblastoma or anaplastic poorly-differentiated carcinoma of the head and neck region. He received 2 courses of CDDP/TXT chemotherapy (cisplatin 75 mg/m2, docetaxel 80 mg/m2) and achieved a partial response, but his carcinoma of the pancreas recurred. He also achieved a partial response with 2 courses of CBDCA/TXL regimen (carboplatin AUC=6, paclitaxel 200 mg/m2), but later died from his progressive disease. The autopsy revealed a pathological diagnosis of metastatic endocrine carcinoma of the pancreas. This case was close to a cancer with an unknown primary (CUP) site, and several favorable sub-sets of CUP have been identified, which are responsive to systemic chemotherapy. Poorly-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas like this case are highly sensitive to chemotherapy, and a careful pathological diagnosis may clarify its sensitivity to chemotherapy and the prognosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Carboplatin / administration & dosage
  • Carcinoma / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Carcinoma / secondary*
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Docetaxel
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / pathology*
  • Paclitaxel / administration & dosage
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Taxoids / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Taxoids
  • Docetaxel
  • Carboplatin
  • Paclitaxel
  • Cisplatin